O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
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PATRIOTS!!!
LET'S ALL BEGIN TO SING OUR VERY OWN ANTHEM!
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Just as a plant begins as a seedling and then it grows...fed, sheltered, pruned, tethered....kept from predators!!!
...we also grow...with parents we are fed and sheltered, pruned by learning what is right or wrong, hopefully tethered by God's Word...and then there are the "predators" who come into our lives...
...teachers, friends, media, your front door visitors, false churches, employers, fellow employees, pamphlets, others...
Finally "grown up" in the LORD we can learn to recognize falsehoods and be concerned with this or that teaching; we enjoy new friends, but "something" isn't right about some of them.
We continue our friendship for quite a while -discounting their "quirks" and wondering about their walk with the LORD. They seem like "solid" Believers with only: "Quirks" in their lives.
Well, we realize we really aren't like them at all!; we are very different in our walk with the LORD. We are open, loving, caring, helpful...they- are not...
As time continues we begin to see the real person in them; bossy, secretive, arrogant, self-centered, controlling, manipulating...
It is time to pull back from them...but our family ties are already woven into them. Now it is only time to recover from their sinful attachments...
But--can we ever be the same free people?...
In the LORD He can heal us, but what has been taken from us can never be returned. We only look to the LORD for our tomorrows.
Hebrews 13:5-6
..."God has said, “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” "...
Psalm 37:7-9
..."Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."...
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"In an age of ugliness,
a work of beauty is an act of defiance.
- Paul Joseph Watson
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Proverbs 1:7-9..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;Fools despise wisdom and instruction.Hear, my son, your father’s instructionand do not forsake your mother’s teaching;Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your headand ornaments about your neck."...
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"Cults are characterized by a charismatic leader, strong social control, and isolation from the outside world.
They often involve extreme beliefs, manipulation, and exploitation of members."
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Key Characteristics of Cults:
Charismatic Leader:
Cults are often led by a charismatic figure who demands obedience and unquestioning loyalty.
Strong Social Control:
Cult leaders exert tight control over members' lives, dictating their thoughts, actions, and emotions.
Isolation from the Outside World:
Cults often isolate members from family, friends, and traditional society, limiting exposure to alternative perspectives.
Extreme Beliefs:
Cults often promote dogmatic and extreme beliefs, sometimes involving apocalyptic scenarios or unique interpretations of reality.
Manipulation and Control:
Cults utilize various techniques to manipulate members, including "love bombing," guilt-tripping, and mind control tactics.
Exploitation:
Cults may exploit members financially, emotionally, or sexually, often under the guise of serving a higher purpose.
Unquestioning Faith:
Members are often discouraged from questioning the leader or the group's doctrines, and dissent is punished.
Fear and Suspicion:
Cults may foster a climate of fear and suspicion of the outside world, often portraying outsiders as enemies or threats.
New Doctrines:
Cults frequently invent new doctrines or interpretations of existing ones, often to maintain control and justify their practices.
Unresolved Insecurities:
Cult leaders and members may struggle with unresolved insecurities and a need for validation, which can be exploited by the leader.
Delusions:
Cults may promote delusions or unsubstantiated claims, often to justify their beliefs and actions.
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sources
What is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs
What is a Cult? 4 Types of Cults and Common Characteristics
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Exodus 20:12
...“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you."...
Leviticus 19:32
..." ‘You shall rise up before the gray-headed and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord."...
Proverbs 16:31
..."A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness."...
..."Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers."...
..."For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."...
"My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
For the devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But He is intimate with the upright.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor."
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